Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday directed the officials to ensure quick and effective disbursement of relief and compensation to the victims of Amritsar rail tragedy and their families, besides all steps to maintain law and order in the area.
The directions were issued by the Chief Minister while reviewing the Amritsar situation from Tel Aviv, Israel, through a Skype video conference. He was briefed on the current situation in Amritsar, in the wake of Friday’s train tragedy, by his Chief Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, along with Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Sangha and Amritsar Commissioner of Police Sudhanshu Srivastava.
The officials informed the Chief Minister that the situation was under control and all the victims, barring one, had been identified.
Of the 58 dead, 52 had been cremated and remaining would be cremated during the day on Monday, said Suresh Kumar, adding that 58 injured were being given the best possible treatment in the hospitals. A total of 116 families had been affected by the tragedy, he added.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to expedite the process of disbursement of the compensation already announced by him for those killed in the tragedy.
Suresh Kumar further informed Capt Amarinder that, as per his advice, emergency assistance groups had been set up with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and officers from the departments of revenue and social welfare. These groups were visiting the affected families and providing any emergency help as needed, such as ration, blankets, clothes etc, he said.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to complete the socio-economic profiling of the victims at the earliest so that their rehabilitation could be taken up on priority.
Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner said that the task was being undertaken on a systematic basis since Sunday itself to identify cases for jobs, pensions, educational support, etc, as required. The situation was peaceful and the train services on the route had been normalised, they added.
Capt Amarinder made it clear to the officials that all possible government support should be provided to the affected families and there should be no delay in ensuring that essentials are supplied to them on priority.